The 4 Levels of Enlightenment | Theravada Buddhism

[@PaulClermont]

The reason i'm holding an Apple in the thumbnail is that the degrees of enlightenment -- the 4 noble attainments -- are referred to as the Fruits (phala) of the holy life. Also you may find this same topic phrased as "the 4 Stages of Enlightenment/Awakening" elsewhere; I chose to call them levels because 'stages' implies that you have to go through each one. Perhaps "degrees of Enlightenment" is an even better term, since only Arahant has complete remainderless nirvana.

[@pafightclub7993]

Surprised you don't have more viewership kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4KahaeiarWZa6c

[@PaulClermont]

@cody campbell thanks man! Will do. 👌

[@cheyennealvis7899]

Paul PLEASE don't be a seeker. Instead just sit down and realise that 'you are' the 'I AM' without words. That is all that is needed. Soon you will arrive at your natural Absolute state. you are all not trapped in Samsara. you ARE samsara. and not samsara. The body is only a concept of the mind. But as well, Samsara is also a concept of mind. Sit down please for 10 minutes and realise that 'you are' the 'I AM' without words. That is all that is needed. Soon you will arrive at your natural Absolute state. tomorrow, sit down for 11 minutes. The next day 12. Don't work upward toward reaching enlightenment. Don't work up to achieving anything. Instead, sit and be. BE there NOW. PLEASE PLEASE!! do it while eating breakfast, while brushing your teeth, while driving, and tell me how you feel.

[@xot.w.o.d2197]

May you be rewarded for spreading the Dhamma❤thank you

[@donabeywardena679]

This was expertly articulated. Thank you Paul.

[@PaulClermont]

🙏

[@matttenderholt4744]

Thank you! Bless you and all others crossing paths here! Peace and love 💕

[@jeffmiller7505]

Very Useful and great 👍 explanation

[@sumalfernando3410]

continue your videos please

[@PaulClermont]

You got it, man- I'll try to do another this month

[@Tony-yw4ns]

Well done .Good dharma 😊

[@heathercole6750]

Appreciate your teaching I learned a lot - great cliff notes 🙏 Thank you for sharing your gift, glad I found you

[@PaulClermont]

Thanks for commenting Heather! That's cool you're also interested in this topic, I'll be sure to keep making more videos. 👍

[@shannonsullivan5000]

Wow. I loved this! I was familiar with the idea of life stages in a new agey way like 'infant soul' 'young soul' etc but it's a billion times more interesting knowing this comes from a scripture that is thousands of years old! I'm loving these videos. Thank you!!!

[@rajeevdagla]

Wonderful .... Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu !!! Subscribed !!

[@PaulClermont]

🙏

[@elisafinch1325]

Fantastic..thank you...Elisa

[@SBCBears]

No, you must pass thru all stages in order. Your passage thru a stage may take a moment or lifetimes, but no skipping. This becomes apparent when the stages are experienced. Any teaching that contains the Eightfold Parh can lead to awakening, according to the suttas.

[@daguerreoobservatory1213]

Paul please make more Dhamma videos.

[@PaulClermont]

Yes, more Dhamma to come! I’m working on my 2nd video now. (though, it’s not about Buddhism)

[@dilhanirathnayake3177]

Very well explained ❤

[@galacticbuddhi]

Very impressive....🙏

[@imprenditobin]

Watch your self prople don’t want you to tell people these truths but keep up the good work! Your killing it kid!

[@PaulClermont]

Thanks man! Yea for sure- i knew what i was signing up for by putting out these videos, but it's time for the info to get out there! 👌

[@thezenith9885]

Cool Channel

[@PaulClermont]

Thanks! Didn't see your comment earlier because KZbin flagged it as spam

[@jamescardoza3582]

Great video, thank you

[@danielcypher3061]

Thank you!

[@XxYngwiexX]

Oh, this is just what I needed to learn, thank you, my brother!

[@PaulClermont]

Awesome, glad to hear Esteban!

[@hhyy3173]

Forgiveness is a great karma annihilator ❤️💪🥳

[@andytuesday500]

Very well presented. Definitely better than listening to some one drag this explanation out for hours. 😁. I’ve listened to a lot of theosophical society lectures. They can get tiresome. Speaking of. What do you make of Helena Blavatsky outlook on metaphysics. You have powerful way of expressing concepts I look forward to more videos.

[@PaulClermont]

I feel that- I'm also not a fan of lecture recordings on KZbin, I'm always looking for the efficient straight-to-the-point content. 👌 I'm also a fan of Theosophy, but It's been a long time since I last looked into it. I actually haven't investigated Blavatsky's work other than a part of her Book of Dzyan commentary. Any specific recommendations for subjects within her works? If I remember correctly her Secret Doctrine is quite voluminous. Also thanks for watching!

[@haisolungdisuang2069]

I'm presenting a paper on this topic, it helped a lot😉😊

[@PaulClermont]

Awesome, that's exciting to hear! And commendable topic choice. 👏 Be sure to check out the original suttas for reference too

[@haisolungdisuang2069]

@@PaulClermont sure, I'll do that🤗

[@Ansh-vajra]

Excellent video !!

[@PaulClermont]

Thank you! 🙏

[@Rylie123]

Google good recommendation on this one

[@Smv1189]

Very insightful Paul. where do you feel you lie within the 4 levels?

[@PaulClermont]

Lol good one 😉. we ain't quite there yet - Someday though. (Also, thanks for watching!)

[@Mmclain83]

Paul Clermont , I love finding shit like you when I’m vibin however the hell im vibing right now, which seems to be just to listen and watch and stop trying to run shit. Game recognize game man, keep doing that shit, you’re good at it and you really enjoy talking about it. It is valuable to me, I’m grateful

[@piddlepond]

🙏

[@wiser.kinder.calmer.6530]

great, I want to cite this information in an essay, do you know a book that explains it well?

[@PaulClermont]

Sorry i don't- at least not in entirety. The Samyojana Sutta (AN 10.13) at least lists the 10 fetters. But you could probably get a lot of citable material on this subject from Thanissaro Bhikkhu's book called "Into the Stream". It's free on his website dhammatalks.org

[@waitingforthereturn]

U speak well and are intelligent, Where is your video about Yahshua and our Salvation from sin and death?

[@ibperson7765]

First of all. That was just fantastic. Great job. 👍🏻 1:35 Maybe this is implied, but it’s called stream entry simply because one has entered the stream, become conscious aware and dwelled in and as the deathless. Not “because youre guranteed...”, even though yes Buddha says you are guaranteed. Guarantee not why is called stream entry. The first one, clinging to personality, is the idea that if I can just get my personality right and become the right type of thing (person), personality-wise, then that in and of itself will make me ok. Technically stream-enterers forget and/or think they are a person in many cases, despite what theyve seen. What they dont do is cling to it as an answer. Yes there may be obsession with a personality change IN ORDER TO get some other goal, but it becomes clear that alone will never do anything for us. Anyway minor points. Thanks for the video

[@MarvinMonroe]

Check out Ramana Maharshi for more on Self Realization. Swami Sarvapriyananda is great too, he's alive and does tons of talks. That's all Vedanta though but still

[@PaulClermont]

Great suggestion Marvin- ironically i found Ramana years ago, just as i was branching out of Theravada! Game-changing teachings from him. I'll be sure to look into Sarvapriyananda, i love hearing from different advaita teachers

[@chrisriceblog]

This helps a lot.. I'd love to see more videos by you about Theravada Buddhism. "Ajahn Sona" does a good job on KZbin too.

[@PaulClermont]

Awesome, i actually have a mostly-complete outline for another Theravada vid in the works (after all this time), but first I've got a different subject coming out soon . Helps to know there's demand for more! Will plan on it next then in the meantime check out my video on the 5 clinging-aggregates (upādāna-khanda) . I'll look up Ajahn Sona

[@chrisriceblog]

@@PaulClermont ah, yeah, I watched your video on the 5 clinging aggregates too. And maybe more than once. A lot of the videos that Ajahn Sona did, you can do from a fresh perspective. I'm actually surprised there is s little good content about early Buddhism (Theravada) online.

[@PaulClermont]

@@chrisriceblog Yeah it's strange isn't it? It seems like people only know about Zen and Tibetan Buddhism in America. Probably because of how lowkey Theravada is, including geographically (sri lanka , thailand, etc). It's very much been a "you find it if you're ready for it" type of thing, and I'd like to change that with my videos. That's why the 4 levels of Enlightenment was the 1st video I ever made. Good idea though, I can get topic ideas from the ajahns for lessons I make in my own words Edit: I believe i also talk about a few Theravada concepts in video number 2 of the Emerald Tablets series; I mention the 3 characteristics (ti-lakkhana) and dependent origination (paticca samupada). Maybe more

[@nixad4248]

@@PaulClermont bro I have one question,If someone enter the first level of enlightenment,is it possible to lost it, I mean Is it possible to lost enlightenment?

[@jonny6905]

This man is ducking dripping

[@sussiea9221]

Please listen to Steven Bancarz testimony is good, he was deep in New age teaching and had lots of viewers, he earned lots of money and owned a big house at a young age. But despite all the money he felt empty and he started to doubting about the life he lived if this was everything. God found him. God bless and stay safe. Jesus Christ is the truth.

[@SBCBears]

Buddha's teaching predates Christianity.

[@SGhosht]

Question ... I believe I entered stream entry years ago but I have since back slide and took my will back etc .... does this mean I have 7 more rebirths if I were to pass away now (knock on wood)

[@PaulClermont]

Yup that's right- a max of 7, but could be less. But if you're uncertain, and ending rebirth is important to you, i would say to find out for sure by studying suttas etc. & maybe finding a genuine master who can interview you. For example you can check out books like Thanissaro Bhikkhu's "Into the Stream"- it's free as an ebook on dhammatalks.org under study guides.

[@SGhosht]

@@PaulClermont thank you for your fast response I will check this out !

[@teohjohnny]

There is actually a sutta where vthe Buddha told about sotapati. In the sutta, the Buddha said that there are generally three type of sotapati First is the sotapati whole rebirth exactly seven times into devas or human realm prior to enlighten. The second are the sotapati who just reborn two or three times into noble family prior to enlighten and the third being a sotapati who attain arahantship immediately in the same lifetime he or she attained sotapatihood but that is only possible if the Buddha is present I think.

[@SBCBears]

@@teohjohnny Buddha's presence is unnecessary in all cases.

[@ronalvarado2800]

Paul, you are very wise. I disagree with your assessment down below of yourself because I feel you have already living in Level 2.

[@thebestofu-tubebytheresaes5189]

Allah!!!

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

How about guys AND Gals?!! For those of us that are not guys and identify with our bodies.

[@SBCBears]

Until you stop identifying your "self" as your body, you will never enter the stream. Wrong self.view is ithe root cause that makes you susceptable to the entire mass of stress, suffering, birth, death, disease, gain and loss that follows you everywhere thru time.

[@MiamiTrueno]

Well done! But there is not ultimate being or true self, there is only the unconditioned nature of dhamma. Keep up!

[@PaulClermont]

Indeed, just the Asankhāta-dhatu. "True self" etc. are just guidepost words. Thanks!

[@tw3638]

No, they must be passed through sequentially. You’re mistaking it for the fact that some people with really efficient practice can get through multiple stages at once

[@tw3638]

No skipping though

[@PaulClermont]

I'm aware of the phenomenological technicality in Abhidhamma (though it does raise questions), but I was just talking in a conventional sense, so that people know you don't have to physically stop at each one for awhile and regain Enlightenment each time; i.e. your enlightenment experience could be the one final glimpse at Arahant like Siddhartha himself. For conventional purposes, we would say levels 1-3 have been skipped

[@margarettelillie2436]

Oh,darling,I love you’re show,,meow,, ooh tell me more,,mmmm,oh I’m reaching nirvana ,,haha you’re hurting my brain🤪🤪❤️yummy

[@mattzrsimon]

wat

[@budddamaku2905]

It's not correct. You can't jump over one stage of enlightment but if the fetters are weak enough you can go through two stages the time of path and fruition.

[@margarettelillie2436]

And sew at this point ,we must all realize,oragami,or our spiritual folding, or fung shwie🤪😜😜😂😂haha,,,

[@dunner079]

Actually, the narrator is misperceiving or misinterpreting the Dhamma. Nirvana or enlightenment is not about discovering any self or the true self but rather the obliteration or the extinguishing of self, or "unbecoming". There was no true self as there was none to begin with.

[@PaulClermont]

I agree- i simply used another common, traditional, spiritual jargon to describe the same concept. The key, of course, lies in understanding what one means behind the words one uses.

[@dunner079]

@@PaulClermont Noted and you have clarified

[@ashutoshpandeyz4508]

Those who drink milk and then eat beef , they will be alwayes away from any such thing. Nobody drink milk and then eat their meat.

[@ashutoshpandeyz4508]

Nonsense

[@enstigatorofficial]

This is correct and well explained. The only problem i saw was you said "supreme self" which is a Hindu goal, not theravada.

[@PaulClermont]

Having studied many traditions, i like to employ syncretic terminology, and i always mean it from a place of highest truth. So although there are certainly beginner yogis who may think becoming an "eternal self/witness imbued with satchitananda" is the goal when they hear the words "Supreme Self", i mean it the same way the masters do, which is, as another term for the Deathless. It's good to use terms like that for impact and understanding, depending on your audience. Jesus called it the kingdom of God, it's all the same. Just placeholder words for the Unfabricated